Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALDOMEO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDOMEO’, particularly characterized by purple flowers with white edge and dark purple lip, 2 peduncles, a short and sturdy inflorescence, a narrow oblong/obovate leaf shape and green foliage, and propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Phalaenopsis Blume

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PHALDOME0’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDOMEO’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDOMEO’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique purple/white flowers, economical propagation bytissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable forpackaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDOMEO’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inBleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDOME0’ originated from a cross made in March2004 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is an unknownPhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘unknown’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is an unknown Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘unknown’(unpatented). A single plant was selected in March 2007 and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by tissue culture in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands over a 6-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDOMEO’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in May 2011 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstratedthat the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 19, 2013. ‘PHALDOMEO’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) Purple flower with white edge and dark purple lip;

2) 2 peduncles;

3) Inflorescence is short and sturdy;

4) The shape of the leaf is narrow oblong/obovate and has green foliage;and

5) Plants are propagated by tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in September 2013.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDOMEO’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of ‘PHALDOMEO’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDOMEO’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDOMEO’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 40-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 9 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 20 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in October 2013. Colorreadings were taken under 4000-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis Blume.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDOMEO’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘mother unknown’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘father unknown’            (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—38            to 40 weeks for a 9 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Mini type, inflorescence.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—30.0 cm to            35.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—16.0 cm to 19.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green-colored roots with branching            lateral roots having red-brown-colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 8.0 cm to            9.0 cm Width: 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm Shape: Narrow oblong/obovate            Apex: Mucronate Leaf blade angle with the petiole: Between 0            degrees and 15 degrees Leaf margin: Entire Color: Upper            surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 146B Texture: Slightly            rough Thickness: 1.8 mm to 2.2 mm Venation: Pattern:            Parallel Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower            surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—13 to 20.        -   Length.—18.0 cm to 22.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.1 mm to 3.3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Brown (RHS 200B).        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 70.0 mm to            90.0 mm Diameter: 60.0 mm to 80.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months            after planting in a 9 cm pot        -   Flower.—Height: 30.0 mm to 35.0 mm Diameter: 36.0 mm to 40.0            mm Depth of lip: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 9 to 11 weeks        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open Shape: Between rhombic and            semi-circular Apex: Slightly asymmetric and obtuse Margin:            Entire Length: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm            Color (when fully opened): Main color: Purple (RHS 78A) At            the base: Purple (RHS 78A) At the tip: White-purple (RHS            76C)        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm            Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Main            color: Purple (RHS 80A) At the base: Purple (RHS 80B) At the            tip: White-purple (RHS 76C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate/elliptic Length: 19.0 mm to            21.0 mm Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm Color (when fully opened):            Main color: Purple (RHS 78A) At the base: Purple (RHS 78A)            At the tip: White-purple (RHS 76D).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire Length: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm            Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: type IV Color: Dark purple (RHS 83A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Obdeltoid Color: Dark red-purple (RHS            72A/77A).        -   Callus.—Color: Yellow (RHS 9B/11B).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm Diameter: 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm            Color: Purple (RHS 78A).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm Color: Orange            (RHS 26A/25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 5.5 mm to 6.5 mm Diameter: 2.7 mm to 2.9 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm Diameter: 1.2 mm to 1.8            mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

Presently there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘PHALDOMEO’ can bemeaningfully compared.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDOMEO’ as shown and described herein.